Page 30 of Caged By the Ruthless Thief

“Marina, I’m not talking about this with you.”

“Isn’t it better to talk to me, and I deflect Mother? Or I could tell her that I saw you in the lobby with lipstick on your neck.”

I shake my head. “What is it, Marina? What do you want?”

“I want at least one of my brothers to pick a mate and stick with it so I have a chance of having a pod. That’s what I want. And with you out there bed-hopping like you’re playing a fast round of obstacle course with pod beds...” She stops and puts her hand on her hip and leans in like she’s going to whisper but then yells at me. “I want to get mated! And no one is going to mate me until they know what other dome our family is trying to ally with. I mean, there are plenty of Zaffiro males, but I don’t want someone who pulled my braids growing up.”

“I know, Marina. But no one expects me to. Talk to Michio. I’m sure there are a lot of mermaids knocking on his door.” If she took a second to use all of her senses, she’d know I was already mated.

She closes her jaw. Really, I love my sister, but right now I don’t have any patience for her. Frustration leaks from her all over the polished marble floor. I get it; I do. But I’ve got enough of my own problems to worry about without dealing with hers too right now.

The elevator opens, and she steps inside. “I’ll tell Mother you said hello.”

I jab my hand in to keep the doors from closing. “I’ll talk to Michio and Kaemon. We’ll figure something out.” What she really needs is someone to model being a little less flighty and a lot more, well, like Annabelle.

“Thank you. But if you do run into Cyprus Drakos, maybe you could drop my name.”

I pull my hand out, and the doors inch closed. “Now why would I run into a Drakos?” Other than because Cyprus is Castor Drakos’s younger brother and Castor is Nico’s best friend. But Marina doesn’t know anything about Annabelle being in my apartment. I smile at my sister.

“Love you, brother.” Marina shrugs.

“Yes, I unfortunately love you too,” I say to the closed door. She can act like a spoiled podlet, but on the inside she’s a kind person.

I open the door to my apartment, but this time I’m ready for the waiting frying pan.

“Eros!” Annabelle says, putting the pan on the counter. The shark hits the window again as she does.

“Nico’s alive.”

“He’s what?”

“Well, he’s pretty beaten up, but he walked out of the government building holding his new trident.”

Her hand flies over her mouth. But then she jumps up and down, reaching for my block. “Show me!”

16

ANNABELLE

The pictures on Eros’s block are real. I’m... I don’t know what I am. Relieved. Shocked. Holter is next to Nico, and Castor is on the other side. Nico’s in one of the robes that are hung around the city, but Castor is wearing a tight shirt, something I’ve never seen him in before.

It’s Nico that holds my attention, though. He’s holding up a trident. “It’s massive.” His hands are bloody. There’s a long scratch along his neck. His hair is slick, away from his face, but it’s curled up at the ends like he’s been running his hands through it. He turns his head to Holter, and there’s a chunk taken out of his neck. “Oh, my Poseidon.” He’s not okay, not in the least bit. “When was this? Is he okay?”

“It’s now.”

“Now?” I want to scurry from the kitchen to find more clothes.

“You can’t go, Sunshine.”

“Why not?”

“It’s not safe. Nico has to heal, and Holter needs to take care of things.”

“Maybe.” I watch as my mates stand shoulder to shoulder. Holter and Nico. When will I get to be with them again? Thehagissashould be showing up at my Boston apartment soon. Do they know I’m not there? No, Nico doesn’t. He can’t. He’s alive, but barely. I touch the screen, and when I do, the picture changes.

“Let’s sit down, and we can look at them together. Then I can make you some food.”

I nod. I’m on autopilot. I walk to the sofa near the window. It’s the only time Mickey stops his complaining. Even through the heavy blinds, he seems to be able to pick up on my presence.

---